document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=6600>Question 6600</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Dear Sir/Madam,\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I am confronted with the following problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\"Solve the equation.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3/(2x-5) + 2/(2x+5) = (10x + 5)/(4x^2 - 25)\"\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "When you work out the left side of the equation (i.e. the addition) you get exactly the same thing as on the right side, so it is just like saying 1 = 1 is it not? I don't understand why the answer is all real numbers except +-5/2. Can you help me please?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thanks in advance.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Regards,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-Mike </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #3591 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=prince_abubu><B>prince_abubu(198)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=prince_abubu><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=3591\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> When you end up with 1 = 1 at the end, or a number equals itself after going through algebraic manipulations, the solution is the set of all real numbers.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "However, in this case, you have 2x-5 and 2x+5 in the denominators. Remember that the denominator can NEVER be zero. In this example, the values 5/2 and -5/2 will make the denominator zero. The solution then would be the set of real numbers except +-5/2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Just in case it might look like I skipped steps, We'll have the equations 2x - 5 = 0 AND 2x + 5 = 0. We are NOT solving for x here. We are just setting the denominators to equal zero to find out what x values make the denominators zero. When you \"solve for x\" (that is, to find that troublemaker x value), you're finding the value or values that will make your equation NOT WORK FOR SURE. </SPAN>\n" );
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